The Process of How Public Health Nurses at Child Guidance Centers Build Supportive Relationships When Handling Child Abuse Cases

<p>Objectives: To identify the processes that public health nurses（PHNs）assigned to Child Guidance Centers（CGCs）use for building supportive relationships with parents when handling child abuse cases. </p><p>Methods: The participants were eight PHNs with experience handling child abuse cases of infants and toddlers at CGCs. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and analyzed using the Modified Grounded Theory Approach. </p><p>Results: Thirty-eight concepts, 12 subcategories and five categories were generated. The process of building supportive relationships used by CGC PHNs when handling child abuse cases has as its basic principle to “prioritize life of a child above all else.” This process achieves ‘seamless care’ by combining both the “confrontational attitude with parents” and a “receptive attitude towards parents.” At its core, there was “a calm and grounded attitude of accepting matters as they are.” </p><p>Discussion: The basic principle of support provided by CGC PHNs, “prioritize life of a child above all else,” was consistent with the purpose of establishing CGCs and the principles of consultation assistance activities. The process highlighted the importance of not necessarily fixating on a trusting relationship but on continuing to build any type of connection for the providing of assistance. This study identified that CGC PHNs are always mindful of keeping “a calm and grounded attitude of accepting matters as they are.”</p>